Record controlled assembly jig



y 5, 1953 H. P. LUHN 2,637,096

RECORD CONTROLLED ASSEMBLY JIG Filed Sept. '21 1948 s Sheets-Sheet 1 May 5, 1953 H. P. LUHN xsconn comow ASSEMBLY JIG 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 21, 1948 AGENT Patented May 5, 1953 RECORD CONTROLLED ASSEDIBLY JIG Hans P. Luhn, Armonk, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 21, 1948, Serial No. 50,416

2 Claims.

This invention relates to assembly devices and more particularly to jigs for facilitating the wiring of a series of terminals in accordance with the indicia of a record card.

It is conventional and frequently desirable to store information in the form of selected connections to the terminals of selector switch levels and later scan these levels with the aid of suitable computing apparatus to read out and utilize the information stored.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide an assembly jig responsive to record card indicia for indicating terminals representative thereof and preparing the terminals to receive a soldered connection.

It is another object to provide an assembly jig for retaining selector switch levels having terminals thereon to be connected to other previously designated terminals representing like values wherein the jig automatically designates the position of the wires to be soldered to the selector switch level, so that they can be placed in proper position for connection to the previously designated terminals.

It is another object to provide an assembly jig of simple construction for effecting the transfer of a variety of information from a record card to a series of terminals, the jig including wire holding cutting and stripping means and terminal heating means for facilitating the connection of wires thereto.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

Briefly, the invention includes a selector switch level holder; a series of light bulbs each disposed underneath one terminal of the selector switch level; a series of brushes actuated by an arm to scan a record card; a wire holder; rotatable heating means for heating selectively the individual terminals of the switch to receive soldered connections and a wire cutter and stripper displaced by the rotation of the arm to designate the position which the wires connected to the switch should occupy on the wire holder to facilitate connection of the switch level to preselected terminals.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top view showing one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 taken along the line 2-2 2 thereof, a portion of the wire cutter and stripper being cut away.

Fi 3 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 taken along the line 3-3 thereof.

Fig. 4 is an elevation view of the wire holding, cutting and stripping means shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a top view of the selector switch level shown in Fig. l and a series of terminals to which the terminals of the switch level are to be connected.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the structural arrangement of the entire jig and cooperating parts can be appreciated from Fig. 1. The entire jig is supported by a base plate I 0. Rectangular card retaining plate ll of conductive material is fastened to the base plate It) by screws [2. Insulating plate 13 (Fig. 3) is secured intermediate the plates l0 and II by the same screws [2. Leaf springs [4 are fastened to the card retaining plate H by screws l5 extending through each spring near one of its ends and through insulating washer plates 1 6. Record card I! is held snugly against the retaining plate II by the leaf springs I 4, the card fitting within the rim 18 of plate ll.

Supporting member I9 is fixedly mounted on the base plate l0 so that it extends parallel thereto over the card retaining plate H and record card I"! retained thereon. A plate 20 is slidably mounted on supporting member I9 by gibs 21 secured to the plate 20 by screws 22.

Arm 23 is pivotally mounted on the base plate H) at 29a and extends parallel and in spaced relation to the base plate. The other end of the arm 23 contains a slot 24 adapted to receive a.

shouldered stud 25 and be held in engagement therewith by washers 26 and 21 and a screw 28 (Fig. 3). Obviously, slot 24 permits the plate 20 to be slidably moved along the supporting member 19 upon the rotation of the arm 23. Arm 29 is pivotally mounted at 29a and affixed to and rotatable with the arm 23 to form a bell-crank lever. A knob 30 is afiixed near the other end of the arm 29 to permit easy rotation of the bell crank. A slot 3! is provided in the arm 29 to permit the rotation of the arm to impart translatory motion to a member slidably engaged with the slot.

The lower left hand portion of Fig. 1 shows the supports Illa afiixed in spaced relation on the base plate l0. Plate 32 is affixed by screws 33 to each support 10a to span the distance therebetween. A shaft 34 slidably mounted in the supports la is slidably engaged in the slot are arranged to engage the detent member 43 and are provided to permit selective positioning of the shaft.

The dotted position of the arm and the stop represent their extreme left positions and are shown to facilitate the description of the operation of the invention hereinafter.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 a disk plate 44 is fixedly mounted on a post secured to the base plate Ill. The top half of the peripheries of the disk plate 44 (Fig. 1) is divided into twenty equally spaced parts designated I-2ll, re-- spectively, to denote the columnar positions of the record card H. A series of twenty electric light bulbs 46-435 are secured near the bottom half of the periphery of the disk plate 44 (Fig. 1). An arm 66 is rotatably mounted adjacent to the plate Ill on the post 45. A member 61 is attached to one end of arm 56 and carries a detent 68 engaged with an associated notch in the periphery of the disk plate 44. A notch is provided opposite each designation I-Zil on the disk plate 44. A pointer 69 is attached to the other end of arm 88 and a handle if] is attached to the member 61 to permit rotation of the pointer to designate any bulb 48-55. A slot H in the disk plate 44 permits the rotation of the pointer 69.

An annular ring 72 is fixedly mounted on the plate 44 concentric with the post 45. tor switch level 13 (Fig. 5) is positioned on ring 12 with its terminals IE-95 opposite the corresponding light bulbs 46-65 except that there is no bulb opposite the common or ground terminal 96. The switch I3 is held in position by any suitable means such as posts (not shown) extending from the plate 44 through hole 91 (Fig. 5) in the switch 13. A cap 99 having a knurled knob I95 fits over the ring 12 and holds the switch I3 against vertical movement. A groove IilI is provided in the cap 99 to receive the posts extending through the switch plates 98. Posts I92 and IE3 are affixed to the cap 99 and engage the post 45 and plate 44, respectively, to provide for quick and accurate assembly of the cap with the ring I2 and switch v level 13.

Pipes I134, I65 and I05 are mounted on the arm 66 and rotatable therewith, upon the rotation of the handle ID, to be immediately underneath any one of the terminals 16-96. The pipes I04 and I05 contain gas and air, respectively, which are combined to maintain a flame used to condition the selected terminals it-96 for soldering. The pipe I86 contains cool air which is utilized to cool quickly the soldered terminals. An opening 581 is provided to permit the rotation of pipes M l-I86 with the arm 66, while still maintaining their connections to their respective sources of supply.

Wire guides I08 are affixed to the plate 44 and extend upwards therefrom to provide a convenient means for separating and bending the wires soldered to the terminals 16-96.

The wire holding means generally designated A selec- 'tions of the record card ll.

4 as I139 is attached to the plate 32 and comprises the stationary plate Iii (Fig. 4) having a series of slots III-I23, plate I21 slidably mounted thereon, and a manually operable cam assembly I22. The plate i2i has a series of teeth I23 each having a protruding portion IBM formed to mate with the portion 6a of the plate IIO. To effect aholding of a wire conductor, it is inserted in the desired one of the slots III-I20 which correspond to the index posi- Prior to such insertion, the cam assembly is positioned with the roller Ifiia of plate lZI on the intermediate land of the cam I22 and the protruding portions I23a prevent the conductors from falling into the bottom portion of the slots Iii-mt.

The cam assembly is then rotated to the pothereby compressing the conductor between a a tooth I23 and the side of corresponding slot to hold it firmly. A spring 524 is attached at one end to the stationary plate tit and at its other end to the slidable plate 82K and urges the plate [2! against the periphery of the cam. Hence,.. when the peripherical portion of the cam nearest its center is placed against the plate I2I by rotating the handle of the cam assembly clockwise, the plate l2i is in its extreme left hand position and the conductors are readily placed in the slots IlB-I2il.

The novel wire cutter and stripper is rotatably secured on the shaft 34 by casing 425. A slot W8 having a sharpened edge is provided to receive a wire conductor. Cutter blade i2! is actuated by button 28 to effect a cutting of the conductor. Spring I29 (Fig. 2) urges the blade I21 into contiguity with the sharpened edge'oi the slot I26 to ensure easy and uniform cutting of the conductor. The button i233 is stationary and is provided to serve as a hand grip to facilitate the moving of the button i28.

A plate ISI (Fig. 2) is attached to the casing I25 and defines a slot I32 having two sharp edges of the type ordinarily used to strip insulation from wire conductors. A button I33 is attached to the member l34 which is rotatably mounted on a pin E35. A portion I341: of member I34 contains a slot which is arranged to mate with slot I32 of member I3i when the button I33 is rotated about the pin I35.

When a wire is to be stripped it is placed in the slot I32 and the slot I34a mated therewith and so held to engage the wire with the sharp The entire cutter and edges of the slot I32. stripper is then rotated about the shaft 34 to strip theinsulation from the wire conductor; The portion I25a of the casing l 5 is provided to effect easy rotation of the cutter and stripper about the shaft 34.

Referring to Fig. 3, an insulating member IE3 is attached to the plate 29 and adapted to carry a series of twenty wire brushes i3! corresponding to the columnar positions of the record card I'I. Plates I38 and IE9 are mounted in the member I36 and are slotted to receive the vertically extending portion of the brush I3? correspond: ing thereto, there being a slot in each member I38 and I39 corresponding to each brush I37. These slots permit the brushes I3? to be supported by the plates I38 and I39 and prevents any substantial movement of them except in a vertical direction, thereby ensuring that each brush will scan only one columnar position on the moved relative to the supporting member I9 and the brushes I31 scan or sweep over the surface of the record card I I. ,An electrical circuit is completed through the retaining plate I I and each brush I31 to a corresponding one of the bulbs 46-65. This circuit is not shown in the drawings, since any conventional arrangement including simple conductive connections between the brushes and bulbs and a source of voltage supply is suflicient.

The switch level I3 comprises one of several selector switch levels. This invention facilitates and insures the proper connection of all these levels for use in a computing machine or other preselected apparatus.

Referring to Fig. 5, the terminals 16-95 of the switch level 13 are wired with conductors in accordance with the indicia of a record card in the manner set forth hereinafter. After the conductors are soldered to the terminals of the selector switch level, they are connected at their other end to terminals or bus bars corresponding, respectively, to the indicia of the record card. In other words, if indicia representing the numeral 8 causes the bulb 6| (Fig. 1) to be lighted, a wire Corre- Values To Be spending Stored Card Column A record card is prepared to indicate the values contained in each of the five columns of the table. For purposes of illustration, the novel method followed relative to the last column will be described'in detail, the methods followed relative to the remaining columns being similar to that followed for the last column.

It is seen from Fig. lthat values representing 0-9 may be punched in those respective index positions of the record card I! in any one of several ways of which the following is one of the most common. The 2 value is represented by a punched hole in the card at the 2 index position in the first column of a field of the card, that column being scanned by the left hand brush I31 (Fig. 1). The other 2 value is represented by a punched hole in the card at the 2 index position in the second column which is scanned by the second brush I31 (Fig. 1) from the left, the 9. value is represented by a punched hole at the 9 index position and the third column the 7 value is represented by apunched hole at the 7 index position and the fourth column. This procedure is repeated until all the desired values are punched in the card and, when the card is punched to correspond to the last column (i. e., V

6. sition (shown by dotted lines in Fig. '1) and the punched record card-inserted underneath the leaf springs I4 and within the rim I8 of the retaining plate II. The arm 29 is then rotated counterclockwise until the first notch 42 engages the detent member 43 to place the brushes on the card in the 9 index position. The third brush I31 from the left makes contact with the retaining plate II and completes a circuit to the bulb 63 causingit to light. The lighting of the bulb 63 indicates that a wire conductor should be soldered to the corresponding terminal 93 of the selector switch level 13. The handle II! is rotated to the 3 position with the pointer 69 intermediate the bulb 63 and the terminal 93. By any suitable means,

for example a pedal, a gas flame supplied from the pipes Hi4 and I05 is directed onto the terminal 93.

When the terminal 93 is sufiiciently heated, the

flame is removed and a wire conductor, properly stripped by the use of wire stripper I40, is soldered to the terminal 93. through the pipe I06 upon the terminal 93 to facilitate its cooling. The wire conductor is then pulled around a pin I08 nearest the terminal 93 and placed in the slot of the wire holder I09'opposite the slot I 25 of the wire cutter and stripper 31. When the shaft 34 is in this position with the extreme right hand notch 42 corresponding to the first index position engaging the latch member 43, the slot I25 is opposite the slot III of the wire holder. After the conductor is placed in the slot III, the cam assembly I22 is rotated to the position shown in Fig. 4 to clamp the conductor firmly in position. The conductor is then placed into the slot I26 and cut by actuating the cutter blade I21 as previously described. The button I33 is then rotated until the slot of the portion I34a presses the conductor against theslot I26. While urging the button I33 to this position, the entire assembly 37 is rotated from the wire holder I09 to strip the insulation from the wire so that it may be connected to another terminal, such connection is described hereinafter.

The knob 30 is then rotated counterclockwise until the second notch 42 from the right engages the latch member 43. The brushes I3! are now on the 8 index position of the card I! and the fifth brush from the left contacts the retaining plate II to light the bulb 6|. handle III is rotated to the "5 position and a wire conductor soldered to the terminal 9| as previously described. The conductor is threaded around the nearest pin I98 and clamped in the slot H2 and cut and stripped in the same manner as the conductor soldered to the terminal 94.

The knob .30 is then rotated counterclockwise until the next notch 42 engages the latch mem- 1 her 43. The brushes I31 are now on the 7 index position and the fourth brush from the left contacts plate II to light the bulb 62. The

handle ID is rotated to the 4 position and a conductor soldered to the terminal 92 as previously described. The conductor is then placed in the slot II3 opposite the slot I26 and cut and tions corresponding to these numerals are to be made to the switch level 13'.

Cool air is then blown The When this is done, none of the The knob 35 is then rotated to place the brushes on the "2 index position. The first and second brushes from the left contact the plate H and cause the bulbs 64 and B5 to light and the designated terminals 94 and 95 are connected together and a single conductor soldered thereto, placed in the slot IIB now opposite the slot I28, cut and stripped.

The knob so is then rotated until the brushes are on the '1 index position and the seventh brush from the left contacts the plate H and causes the bulb 59 to light. A conductor is then soldered to the terminal 89, placed in the slot H9 opposite the slot I25, cut and stripped.

The knob 39 is then rotated to place the brushes on the index position and the sixth brush from the left contacts the plate I! and causes the bulb =69 to light. A conductor is then soldered to the terminal 90, placed in the slot H20 opposite the slot I26, cut and stripped.

The conductors connected to the switch level 13 each now have their loose end extending from the wire holder I119. The relative positions of the conductors are shown diagrammat ically in Fig. These loose ends are to be connected to terminals or bus bars to which they correspond; that is to say, the conductors corresponding to the values 0-9 connected to the terminals of the selector switch level I3 are connected at their other end to the terminals or bus bars corresponding, respectively, to the valuesO-Q. These terminals mounted on terminal board I41 (Fig. 5) are designated 0-9, respectively, which are the values to which they correspond. When the terminal board with the terminal 9 on the left is placed in contiguity with the wire holder I69, each conductor is opposite the terminals to which it corresponds as shown in Fig. 5. The conductors may be soldered to the corresponding terminals of the terminal board while it is held against the holder I09 or the cap 99 may be removed and the switch level disengaged (for soldering the conductors to the terminals in any convenient manner.

The above procedure is repeated for the remaining four columns. there being produced a selectively wired switch level corresponding to each column of the table. All of the switch levels can then be assembled to form a selector switch from which the various values set forth in each row of the table may be readily obtained. The apparatus and procedure required to read out these values from the selector switch do not constitute part of this invention.

It is now apparent that the invention is extremely useful in facilitating the storing of information in that the record cards may be punched in advance and the proper connections made by an inexperienced person without requiring a checking thereof or supervision of any kind.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is: I

1. An assembly jig for wiring selector switch levels to correspond to the indicia of a record 8. card including a support formed to receive a selector switch level having a lurality of tarminals' extending from its periphery; a cap eIigageable with and disengageable from said support for fixedly positioning said level; a wire holder comprising a plurality of wire holding members mounted in spaced relation to said support, each of said Wire holding members corresponding to an index position on said card; a unitary control operable to cause said members to clamp and release wire conductors; an electric glow device mounted adjacent to each acr minal of the selector switch level, each said de vice comprising a bulb connected to be respon sive to indicia in one column of said card; a shaft slidably mounted in juxtaposition with said wire holder; detent means for retaining said shaft in any of a plurality of positions corresponding to the columnar positions on the card; a conductive plate for receiving the rec 0rd card; resilient means for retaining the card in a stationary position on said plate; a hrrality of brushes corresponding, respectively, to the columnar positions on said record card and slidably mounted to scan the card; a circuit con nection from each brush to the corresponding glow device to energize said device when that brush contacts the conductive plate thereby completing an electrical circuit including said glow device; and a bell crank for imparting translatory motion to said brushes and said shaft.

2. fin-assembly jig for wiring selector switch levels to correspond to the indicia of a record card including a support formed to receive a selector switch level having a plurality of terminals extending from its periphery; a cap engageable with and disengageable from said support for fixedly positioning said level; a wire holder comprising a plurality of wire holding members mounted in spaced relation to said support, each of said wire holding members corresponding to an index position on said card; an electric glow device mounted adjacent to each terminal of the selector switch level, each said device comprising a bulb connected to be responsive to the sensing of indicia in a different column of said card; a shaft slidably mounted in juxtaposition with said wire holder; a wire cutter and stripper rotatably mounted on said shaft and slidable therewith, said cutter including a slotted member for receiving a conductor, a cutter blade, means formoving the cutter blade along one face of the slotted member and resilient means for holding the blade contiguous with the slotted member, said stripper including a second slotted. member having a slot aligned with the slot in said first tor; detent means for retaining said shaft in any of a plurality of positions corresponding to the columnar positions on the card thereby providing for the definite step-by-step translatory' movement of said shaft, record card receiving means" forfixedly positioning said card; a plurality of in- I dicia sensing means corresponding respectively to the columnar positions on said card and slidably mounted to scan the card; an electrical cir- 1 cuit connecting each lndicia. sensing means to the corresponding glow device, said circuit being closed when that sensing means contacts the indicia of said card; and a bell crank for imparting translatory motion to said indicia sensing means and said shaft so that the step-by-step rotation of said bell crank causes the index positions of said card to be scanned thereby closing said electrical circuit to energize said glow devices to indicate the terminal of said switch level adjacent thereto and indicating the wire holding member corresponding to said indicia, each said wire holding members being indicated by its proximity to said stripper and cutter movable with said shaft.

HANS P. LUHN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Cross Oct. 29, 1929 Jones Dec. 10, 1929 Andren Jan. 6, 1931 Knuuti et al Sept. 8, 1931 Keller et al June 23, 1936 Tauschek June 14, 1938 Hiensch Jan. 13, 1942 Malhiot June 13, 1944 Malhiot Sept. 12, 1944 Bartelheim et a1. Feb. 12, 1946 Bartelheim Apr. 6, 1948 Konicek Jan. 18, 1949 Isaason et al Mar. 29, 1949 Hamilton May 10, 1949 

